The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said Thursday the City of Lincoln and Pinnacle Bank Arena should be prepared to face a lawsuit.

It claims the arena fails to meet the basic constitutional requirements of free speech.

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The ACLU is representing Larry Ball, 77, and a Navy veteran who was ticketed in March for distributing religious pamphlets. The case was dismissed but the City has threatened to file new criminal charges should he return to the Arena.

Until Wednesday there was no written policy,but then Pinnacle Bank Arena updated its website.

Joel Donahue, Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Nebraska said, "The newly announced policy fails in several significant ways. The City wants to prohibit the most classic, honored forms of free speech, including leafleting. A complicated map tries to push free speech to the very edge of public land, yet there are no clear boundaries to give the average person any advance notice of their rights. Apparently some people will be given permission to express themselves--but there are no criteria outlining who gets those rights."

Amy Miller, Legal Director for the ACLU of Nebraska said, “Our client and all individuals of any faith or political persuasion have the right to express their views on any subject in public. The City of Lincoln has failed to acknowledge the right of all residents to communicate ideas on a public sidewalk. Not only are we preparing a lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Ball, we are ready to take additional complaints from those who want to exercise their First Amendment rights outside of the Arena.”

Donahue said the policy ignores existing precedent and said, “The government cannot dodge their constitutional responsibilities by delegating the management and decision making to someone else. The city should welcome pamphleteers, demonstrators and others engaging in peaceful free speech activity at the Arena.”

The ACLU said Larry Ball is a father of four who says becoming a Christian four decades ago saved his life and marriage. He shares the story that saved his life by producing pamphlets he distributes in public areas.

Ball said, "The Good News of Jesus Christ changed me. Jesus said that He would make His followers fishers of men. As you know, fishermen have to go where the fish are and the public sidewalk by the Arena is a great "fishing hole!”